Assassin's Creed progenitor Patrice Désilets' latest project, 1666: Amsterdam, has launched into early access. Developed by Panache Digital Games, the game aims to blend open-world investigation with combat across three distinct time periods: the present day, the 1990s, and the titular year of 1666. Despite its ambitious scope, the current early access build is marred by technical issues and a general lack of polish, though moments of brilliance hint at the game's potential.
An Ambitious Foundation
The game casts players as Noa in 1666 Amsterdam, a witch tasked with hunting down other witches. While this premise might sound similar to Désilets' previous work on Assassin's Creed, the gameplay diverges significantly. Instead of the series' signature parkour and stealth assassinations, 1666: Amsterdam focuses on investigation and covert action. Noa must gather evidence and identify her targets by listening to crowd chatter and exploring the city, often moving discreetly through its waterways or avoiding direct confrontation.
The game excels when it leans into its unique mechanics, particularly its approach to infiltration and puzzle-solving. Players can inhabit a cat to navigate confined spaces and scout enemy locations, or even possess guards to gain access to restricted areas. These mechanics allow for intricate spatial puzzles, turning the act of gathering evidence into a compelling challenge.
A World of Detail and Delays
Visually, 1666: Amsterdam draws inspiration from the Dutch Golden Age, with environments that evoke the paintings of masters like Vermeer and Rembrandt. The game meticulously recreates Amsterdam's architecture, from its brick buildings and complex windows to the everyday objects found within its homes. This attention to detail creates an immersive atmosphere, inviting players to explore its richly rendered world.
However, the game's ambition often clashes with its current state of development. Technical issues are prevalent, including frequent bugs, AI problems, and occasional crashes that necessitate restarting. The combat, while visually elaborate, feels unbalanced, with the player character being too fragile and the dash move too effective, encouraging conservative play over engaging with the full range of combat options. These rough edges can lead to moments of confusion and frustration, echoing an early Sam Raimi filmmaking analogy where the execution is so flawed that the audience is left bewildered rather than critical.
A Glimpse of Potential
Despite its flaws, 1666: Amsterdam offers a complex and at times audacious experience. The blend of historical setting, witchcraft, and intricate environmental puzzles creates a unique gameplay loop. The ability to explore interiors and solve problems through indirect means, like using a cat or possessing guards, sets it apart from many open-world titles. The game's narrative interweaves three time periods, allowing players to experience different facets of Amsterdam and its history.
Panache Digital Games, known for the similarly ambitious yet flawed Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey, appears to be on a path to creating a game that lingers in the player's mind. While 1666: Amsterdam is not yet the polished experience that many might hope for, its underlying design and unique concepts suggest a game with significant potential, particularly for those willing to overlook its current imperfections in favor of its intriguing ideas. The game is expected to offer around 15 hours of content in its full release, with the early access build currently providing a substantial portion of that.